Published: Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 5:19 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 7, 2013 at 9:32 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH — Blake Gilbert lifted his small sunglasses and eyed the bike being wheeled out the door at the Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties.

Shyly looking up at Executive Director Gloria Max, the 4-year-old smiled and walked toward his new set of wheels.

He didn't care that it was painted pink and had other designs typical on a girl's bike. A volunteer pointed out that the boy's father can fix that with new stickers.

He was just happy to have a bike like his 8-year-old sister, who received one from the agency last week. They've been living in local hotels with their parents and another brother for almost a year.

Smiles from those children are what has kept Max going the past 20 years.

She started at the federation on Jan. 11, 1993, which happens to be the same day this year she will receive the annual Mission Award from Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center at a presentation at Temple Beth El in Ormond Beach at 7:30 p.m.

The award, which has been given out since 2004, goes to an individual in the community who has gone "above the call of duty." The honor also goes to someone who reflects the hospital's mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ and providing hope, health and healing, according to Farzad Nourian, director of pastoral care and chaplain for Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center.

Employees of the hospital nominate individuals and a committee makes the final selection.

Nourian said Max and the federation, which serves people of all denominations at its offices on Andalusia Avenue, have "stepped in and filled in that gap that is desperately needed in Volusia and Flagler" counties.

Max, 72, said she feels she's "making a difference" and is touched to receive the award.

"I do it because I see what is going on in the community. There are people with real problems," Max said, whether it's grandparents caring for grandchildren or people who have lost their jobs. "In Judaism, they say if you save one life you are saving the entire world. That is how we feel."

The federation has grown from providing food to one or two people a day when Max started as the director to about 50 families a day or close to 25,000 people last year. The agency also provided other assistance and almost 7,000 backpacks with supplies for school students last year. In 16 years, the agency has provided more than 64,000 backpacks. The local federation, which started in 1954, formed a social service council in 1981 to serve the needs of the community. The board includes representatives from area temples.

"They say the economy is getting better, but we haven't seen it," Max said. "We are seeing a higher-class of people who have been reduced to asking for food. It's embarrassing for them."

Anna Gilbert, 34, and her husband, Kenneth, 40, came to the Daytona Beach area for surgical treatment on his shoulder that was crushed while working construction three years ago, they said. She had a job, but said she was laid off in October.

"If it wasn't for (the Jewish Federation), we wouldn't be eating right now," she said. "(Gloria Max) is a very sweet lady."

Chris Stigliano, 27, of Daytona Beach also received help during the holidays with turkey and toys for his three children in addition to bags of food last week. He's on disability and the children's mother is looking for work.

"Gloria is a really nice woman," he said. "She's helped me out tremendously."

Nourian said Max and her husband, Ray, 78, "give a lot of hope to families who are just barely making it. That also brings a form of healing in our community that I feel sometimes people don't realize."

The hospital also helps the agency with food drives and school supplies and backpacks.

"She is very grateful for what she gets," Nourian said. "I'm truly grateful for people like her. I feel her and her husband are models for our community here. It is truly an inspiration. They both work very hard and put in a lot of hours."

Max started working at the Jewish Federation after previously retiring to the area with her husband from West Virginia, where they owned a gourmet food store that also did catering, including for the governor's mansion in Charleston.

Now her husband volunteers in the agency's Jerry Doliner Food Bank, named for a long-time supporter and former county councilman.

"I couldn't do this work if it wasn't for my husband," Gloria Max said.

She also points to volunteers like Doug Powell, who comes in five days a week, and to about 4,000 donors, "angels" she said, including those who received help in the past.

Married 52 years, the Maxes have two children and two grandchildren. They get to the federation about 4 or 4:30 a.m. five days a week, and sometimes finish at 9 p.m. Her husband comes in earlier to start preparing food bags and to pick up food from places that donate to the agency.

Ray Max said his wife, whom he describes as "an incredible person and a wonderful mate," is very strong emotionally, but they have both cried thinking about families they serve.

"You can come to tears when you start relating to the different situations people have gotten themselves in," Ray Max said. "We worry about where the next philanthropic person will come about."

When Gloria Max is not passing out food, she's fundraising, seeking grants and answering calls from people in need.

"I'm thankful for what I have," Gloria Max said. "Everybody has problems but when you hear what other people have gone through — losing their home and cars; it's a horrible thing when you have lost everything."

Dr. Aron Newfield, a retired orthopedic surgeon and president of the Jewish Federation, said "Gloria is the Federation."

"She is the heart and soul of the federation. She is amazing," Newfield said. "She cares for people. She raises money for projects. Her husband is just as dedicated."

Max said she has no plans to retire soon. She and her husband will stay "as long as we are healthy and as long as the economy is like this" and there are people in need.

"I'm tired when I go home, but I feel special when someone sends a card or tells us 'Thank you' on the phone," Max said. "It does make you feel good and (to know) your efforts weren't in vain."

<p>DAYTONA BEACH &mdash; Blake Gilbert lifted his small sunglasses and eyed the bike being wheeled out the door at the Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties. </p><p>Shyly looking up at Executive Director Gloria Max, the 4-year-old smiled and walked toward his new set of wheels. </p><p>He didn't care that it was painted pink and had other designs typical on a girl's bike. A volunteer pointed out that the boy's father can fix that with new stickers. </p><p>He was just happy to have a bike like his 8-year-old sister, who received one from the agency last week. They've been living in local hotels with their parents and another brother for almost a year. </p><p>Smiles from those children are what has kept Max going the past 20 years. </p><p>She started at the federation on Jan. 11, 1993, which happens to be the same day this year she will receive the annual Mission Award from Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center at a presentation at Temple Beth El in Ormond Beach at 7:30 p.m. </p><p>The award, which has been given out since 2004, goes to an individual in the community who has gone "above the call of duty." The honor also goes to someone who reflects the hospital's mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ and providing hope, health and healing, according to Farzad Nourian, director of pastoral care and chaplain for Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. </p><p>Employees of the hospital nominate individuals and a committee makes the final selection. </p><p>Nourian said Max and the federation, which serves people of all denominations at its offices on Andalusia Avenue, have "stepped in and filled in that gap that is desperately needed in Volusia and Flagler" counties. </p><p>Max, 72, said she feels she's "making a difference" and is touched to receive the award. </p><p>"I do it because I see what is going on in the community. There are people with real problems," Max said, whether it's grandparents caring for grandchildren or people who have lost their jobs. "In Judaism, they say if you save one life you are saving the entire world. That is how we feel." </p><p>The federation has grown from providing food to one or two people a day when Max started as the director to about 50 families a day or close to 25,000 people last year. The agency also provided other assistance and almost 7,000 backpacks with supplies for school students last year. In 16 years, the agency has provided more than 64,000 backpacks. The local federation, which started in 1954, formed a social service council in 1981 to serve the needs of the community. The board includes representatives from area temples. </p><p>"They say the economy is getting better, but we haven't seen it," Max said. "We are seeing a higher-class of people who have been reduced to asking for food. It's embarrassing for them." </p><p>Anna Gilbert, 34, and her husband, Kenneth, 40, came to the Daytona Beach area for surgical treatment on his shoulder that was crushed while working construction three years ago, they said. She had a job, but said she was laid off in October. </p><p>"If it wasn't for (the Jewish Federation), we wouldn't be eating right now," she said. "(Gloria Max) is a very sweet lady." </p><p>Chris Stigliano, 27, of Daytona Beach also received help during the holidays with turkey and toys for his three children in addition to bags of food last week. He's on disability and the children's mother is looking for work. </p><p>"Gloria is a really nice woman," he said. "She's helped me out tremendously." </p><p>Nourian said Max and her husband, Ray, 78, "give a lot of hope to families who are just barely making it. That also brings a form of healing in our community that I feel sometimes people don't realize." </p><p>The hospital also helps the agency with food drives and school supplies and backpacks. </p><p>"She is very grateful for what she gets," Nourian said. "I'm truly grateful for people like her. I feel her and her husband are models for our community here. It is truly an inspiration. They both work very hard and put in a lot of hours." </p><p>Max started working at the Jewish Federation after previously retiring to the area with her husband from West Virginia, where they owned a gourmet food store that also did catering, including for the governor's mansion in Charleston. </p><p>Now her husband volunteers in the agency's Jerry Doliner Food Bank, named for a long-time supporter and former county councilman. </p><p>"I couldn't do this work if it wasn't for my husband," Gloria Max said. </p><p>She also points to volunteers like Doug Powell, who comes in five days a week, and to about 4,000 donors, "angels" she said, including those who received help in the past. </p><p>Married 52 years, the Maxes have two children and two grandchildren. They get to the federation about 4 or 4:30 a.m. five days a week, and sometimes finish at 9 p.m. Her husband comes in earlier to start preparing food bags and to pick up food from places that donate to the agency. </p><p>Ray Max said his wife, whom he describes as "an incredible person and a wonderful mate," is very strong emotionally, but they have both cried thinking about families they serve. </p><p>"You can come to tears when you start relating to the different situations people have gotten themselves in," Ray Max said. "We worry about where the next philanthropic person will come about." </p><p>When Gloria Max is not passing out food, she's fundraising, seeking grants and answering calls from people in need. </p><p>"I'm thankful for what I have," Gloria Max said. "Everybody has problems but when you hear what other people have gone through &mdash; losing their home and cars; it's a horrible thing when you have lost everything." </p><p>Dr. Aron Newfield, a retired orthopedic surgeon and president of the Jewish Federation, said "Gloria is the Federation." </p><p>"She is the heart and soul of the federation. She is amazing," Newfield said. "She cares for people. She raises money for projects. Her husband is just as dedicated." </p><p>Max said she has no plans to retire soon. She and her husband will stay "as long as we are healthy and as long as the economy is like this" and there are people in need. </p><p>"I'm tired when I go home, but I feel special when someone sends a card or tells us 'Thank you' on the phone," Max said. "It does make you feel good and (to know) your efforts weren't in vain."</p><p></p><p> </p><p>To donate to the Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties, call 386-672-0294 or send to 470 Andalusia Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32174.</p>